Piccolo



N. l. HALL PICCOLO Dec. 4, 1934.

Filed April 2, 1934 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to piccolos, and preferably to keyless piccolos.

The object of this invention is to provide a musical instrument commonly known as a pic- Q 5 ;co1o which has a combination of finger holes arranged in such a manner that they may be,

conveniently closed by the fingers and thumbs without the use of keys, pads or other mechanism.

A further object is to provide a flexible coupling between the two portions of the instrument which makes it possible to change the length of the instrument for tuning and yet maintain the joint airtight. For this purpose an 1; elastic cylinder is used as a sleeve.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piccolo which is simple, rugged and whic can be cheaply manufactured.

A further object is to provide an instrument :29? that will not tarnish. For this purpose stainless steel is used for the body of the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Figure I is a top view of the instrument.

Figure 11 is a sectional view along axis IIII.

The instrument is composed of two pieces of tubing A and B which are joined together by a rubber coupling C. The tube A is closed at one :30- end by the adjustable plug D and has hole E in it which is known as the embouchure or blow hole. The instrument is made of stainless steel. This will enable the instrument to maintain a bright finish over long periods of time without '35 the necessity of polishing.

The short piece of tubing A is generally known as the head joint and the longer piece of tubing B as the body joint. The body joint contains eleven holes. The number opposite each :.40- hole on the drawing corresponds to the number of the finger which covers it. The fingers and thumbs are numbered in order from 1 to 10 beginning with the thumb of the left hand as number 1 and ending with the little finger of the .45 right hand as number 10. For example, the

number of the thumb on the right hand is number 6. The thumb of the left hand covers two holes which are numbered 1 and 1a. Hole 1a is on the bottom of the instrument and can be seen by looking down through hole number 3.

Holes 1 and 6 are also on the bottom of the instrument and are covered with the thumbs. The finger holes are arranged in such a manner that they may be conveniently covered by the fingers and thumbs of the hands and such that one skilled in the playing of the instrument can play all those notes ordinarily written in piccolo music.

In playing the piccolo, it is held to the lips, as is any other piccolo, such that the lower lip 69 covers about one-third of the blow hole and A such that when a stream of air is blown between the lips, the air divides, part going in the hole and part over the hole. The instrument extends horizontally to the right of the mouth. It is supported by the hands in such a position that the fingers and thumbs lie directly over the proper holes as described above. The various musical tones are produced by closing the necessary holes with the fingers and by blowing air 70 correctly in and over the blow hole.

The standard piccolo generally has fifteen holes controlled by a complicated system of keys while this simplified piccolo has only eleven holes and so arranged that no keys whatever are required. One skilled in the playing of this instrument can play a complete chromatic scale, with good intonation, including nearly three oc taves.

The pitch of the instrument is determined by 30 the length of the tube, the inside diameter of the tube, the positions of the holes, and the position of the stopper in the head joint. Each of these dimensions is dependent on the others in such a way that if one is changed, one or 35 more of the others must be changed to compensate for it. There are several variations to this combination of holes but the combination shown in the drawing is thought to be the most practical.

At the present time, piccolos are made in the key of -C- and in the key of D fiat, the 440A being the standard pitch. The distance between the blow hole and the lower end of a -D fiatpiccolo is approximately nine and one quarter inches and is approximately nine and three quarter inches on the C- piccolo. These dimensions will vary with the diameter of the tube used and are given only to indicate the relative sizes of the instrument. In order that the instrument be in tune, it is necessary that all dimensions be exact and these dimensions can only be found by trial.

The absence of keys, pads and other mechanism provides a cheaply manufactured instrument as well as an instrument which is very rugged and which cannot get out of adjustment.

The invention relates to keyless piccolos, however, the addition of keys does not depart from the scope of the claims.

holes produce B-fiat and d and are so disposed on the instrument as to be jointly coverable by a thumb.

2. A musical instrument of the class described having eleven tone holes, two of which holes produce Bflat and C and are so disposed on the instrument as to be jointly coverable by a thumb said B-flat holes being smaller than said C hole; and further from the mouthpiece than said C h'ole.

NATHAN ISAAC HALL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Pltent No. L983, December 4. 1934.

NATHAN ISAAC HALL.

It it hereby certified that error epoeare in the printed specification of the ebove numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 83, claim 2, I l or "holes" read hole; end that the said Letters Patent should be read with thin correction therein" that the nine may conform to the record of the one in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed thirSllidey of February, A. D. 1935.

Lesl ie Frazer 6)- Acting Commissioner of Patente.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. l,983,288. December 4. 1934.

NATHAN ISAAC HALL.

It in hereby certified that error apoeare in the printed specification of the ebove numbered patent requiring'correction as follows: Page 2, line 83, claim 2, v If)! "hem" read hole; ind" {hit fiie 'aaid Letters Patent should be read with thin correction therein that the inme may conform to the record of the one in the Patent Office.

Slg'nedfmisealbd' lhitSihdiy of February, A. D. 1935.

"Leslie Frazer ra f Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

